Apparatus for the simultaneous contactless separation of individual non-magnetic electrically conductive bodies from a continuous flow and orientation thereof

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for orientation electrically conductive bodies, preferably, non-magnetic ones, in a magnetic field, comprising an electromagnet connected with a source of alternating current, the pole pieces of this electromagnet defining therebetween a zone where the successively fed bodies are oriented, this apparatus providing for contactless separation of the successive ones of these bodies from the continuous stream in which they are fed toward the orientation zone, this apparatus further providing for selectively either grouping these successive bodies into a continuous stream, after they have passed this orientation zone, or spacing them after they have passed that zone; this invention being particularly suitable for the aims of introducing automation into such operations, when diverse objects are to be fed into all kinds of processing equipment.

I United States Patent 3,661,241

Ioffe et al. 1 May 9, 1972 541 APPARATUS FOR THE [56] References CitedSIMULTANEOUS CONTACTLESS UNITED STATES PATENTS SEPARATION OF INDIVIDUALNON- MAGNETIC ELECTRICALLY 3,353,822 1 H1967 Dangelmaier ..271/18.1

A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 219,237 21910 G ..221 156 ORIENTATIONTHEREOF many [72] Inventors: Benyamin Alexandrovich loffe, ulitsa Rau-Primary f as, 45/2 vyacheslav Semenovich AtlorneyWaters,RodItI,Schwartz& NIssen Dorofeev, ulitsa Frunzes, ll, kv. 5', EduardProkofievich Davydenko, ulitsa Lenina, [57] ABSTRACT of R183 Anapparatus for orientation electrically conductive bodies, [22] Filed:Dec. 16, 1969 preferably, non-magnetic ones, in a magnetic field,comprising an electromagnet connected with a source of alternating cur-PP 885,537 rent, the pole pieces of this electromagnet definingtherebetween a zone where the successively fed bodies are oriented, thisapparatus providing for contactless separation [30] Foreign ApphcauonPnomy Dam of the successive Ones of these bodies from the continuousDec. 25, 1968 U.S.S.R ..l289053 stream in which they are fed toward theorientation zone, this apparatus further providing for selectivelyeither grouping [52] U.S.Cl. ..l98/33 AB, 198/41 these successive bodiesinto a continuous stream, after they [51] Int. Cl ..B68g 47/24 havepassed this orientation zone, or spacing them after they [58] Field ofSearch ,.198/33, 41; 221/156; 271/18.l; have passed that zone; thisinvention being particularly suita- 193/43 ble for the aims ofintroducing automation into such operations, when diverse objects are tobe fed into all kinds of processing equipment.

6 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures \s//, 6 l Ill] 3. 2% 2 F 4 so, a '4 I" I 2 5L WIW" I II 5 I 2 E QQQ PATENTEDMAY 9 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 4 PATENTEDMAY 9I972 3,661,241

sum u 0F '4 APPARATUS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS CONTACTLESS SEPARATION OFINDIVIDUAL NON-MAGNETIC ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE BODIES FROM A CONTINUOUSFLOW AND ORIENTATION THEREOF The present invention relates to apparatusfor orientation electrically conductive bodies, preferably, non-magneticones, in a magnetic field, and, more particularly, it is intended foruse in those fields of production and engineering, where variousworkpieces are fed for piece-by-piece processing and afterwards aresupplied for an assembling operation.

There is a known apparatus for orientation electrically conductivebodies, where successive bodies are oriented due to an interaction of amagnetic field created by a direct current with alternating currentsinduced in the bodies being indexed.

However, this known apparatus is uncapable of contactless separation ofsuccessive bodies to be oriented from the continuous stream in whichthey are supplied toward the orientation zone, and, besides, the knownapparatus cannot effect orientation of bodies or workpieces havingintricate configuration.

It is an object of the present invention to eliminate thesedisadvantages.

The present invention has for its aim the creation of an apparatus fororientation electrically conductive bodies in a magnetic field, whichshould be capable of separation ofsingle successive bodies to beoriented from the continuous stream in which they are supplied towardthe orientation zone, which should be further capable of selectivelyspacing and grouping said bodies after their having passed saidorientation zone and which should feature an increased concentration ofsaid magnetic field adjacent to the entrance portion of said orientationzone.

In accordance with the present invention, this aim is at tained in anapparatus for orientation electrically conductive bodies in a magneticfield, comprising an electromagnet hav ing a winding adapted to besupplied with alternating electric current, and at least a pair of polepieces, said pole pieces defining therebetween an orientation zoneflaring in a direction in which said successive bodies are adapted to besupplied, and means for feeding said successive bodies toward saidorientation zone and delivering said bodies therefrom.

It is advisable for said pair of pole pieces of said electromagnet tohave each a flat surface, the planes of said flat surfaces intersectingalong an imaginary line extending vertically on that side of said polepieces, from which said successive bodies to be oriented are supplied.In a preferred embodiment of the present invention said pole pieces formeach an acute angle in the direction of the supply of said bodies withan imaginary line connecting the extreme points of said respective polepieces on said supply side.

Said means for feeding said successive bodies toward said orientationzone and for delivering said bodies therefrom may be formed either as atleast one vibratory trough featuring two different conveying speedsequal to, respectively, V, at the entrance portion of said orientationzone and V, at the exit portion thereof, or, alternatively, said meansmay comprise two conveyors of which one is adapted to introduce saidsuccessive bodies into said orientation zone at a speed equal to V," andthe other one is adapted to deliver said bodies from said orientationzone at a speed equal to V where in both cases V, V if said bodies areto be brought together, or grouped after their having been oriented,and, voce versa, V, V if said bodies are to be spaced after havingpassed said orientation zone.

An apparatus for orientation electrically conductive bodies in amagnetic field, constructed in accordance with the present invention,has been found to attain the abovespecified objects and aims.

The present invention will be better understood from the followindetailed description of embodiments thereof, with due reference beingmade to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. I shows schematically the general perspective view of an apparatus,embodying the invention, comprising a trough means supporting bodies tobe oriented;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the pole pieces of the electromagnet and thetrough means of the apparatus shown in FIG. I;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate how the magnetic flux is distributed at variouspositions of the pole pieces of the electromagnet;

FIG. 5 shows schematically the general perspective view of an apparatus,embodying the invention, comprising two conveyors, carrying,respectively, the bodies before and after orientation;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows schematically the structure of an apparatus, embodying theinvention, plan view,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

Referring now particularly to the appended drawings, shown in FIGS. Iand 2 is an apparatus comprising an electromagnet having a magnetic coreI and a winding 2 wound thereabout, the winding being connected to asource of alternating current, and a pair of pole pieces 3 and 4defining therebetween an orientation zone flaring in the direction ofprogress of bodies being oriented, the bodies being, for example, in theshape of cylindrical workpieces 5 having radially extending slits cuttherein. The direction of the progress of the bodies is indicated inFIGS. I l and 2 by arrow lines. The cylindrical workpieces 5 aresupplied toward the orientation zone and delivered therefrom byappropriate conveying means which in the herein disclosed embodiment ofthe invention is in the form of a vibratory trough 6. The pole pieces 3and 4 are provided with respective flat surfaces which are so positionedrelative to each other that the imaginary intersection line of theirrespective planes extends vertically on the side of said pole pieces,from which the bodies 5 are supplied toward the orientation zone. Withthe pole pieces 3 and 4 thus positioned, the greater concentration ofthe magnetic flux formed thereby is between their pointed portions, thenon-uniformity of the magnetic flux being such that the inductancedecreases from the area between the pointed ends in the direction of theprogress of the workpieces 5 (FIG. 2). Owing to this distribution of themagnetic flux, a successive workpiece 5, as it appears at the area ofthe greatest concentration of the magnetic field, is separated from thecontinuous stream of workpieces being supplied and thereafter isoriented in the flaring portion of the orientation zone.

The pole pieces 3 and 4 (FIG. 3) of the electromagnet may be disposed atthe respective acute angles 01" relative to a line connecting thepointed ends thereof, in the direction of the progress of the bodies. Inthis case the distribution of the magnetic field along the axis X,Xwithin the area between the pole pieces will be somewhat different, ascompared with the arrangement of the pole pieces, shown in FIGS I, 2 and4.

It becomes apparent from the comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4, that when theflaring angles of the respective orientation zones are equal to eachother (B, =3 the positioning of the pole pieces at an acute angle a inrelation to the line connecting the pointed ends of the pole pieces, asshown in FIG. 3, gives a concentration of the magnetic field in the areaof the point 0, which is somewhat greater than that in the same area ofF IG.4.

In the embodiment of the present invention, described hereinabove,cylindrical workpieces 5 are oriented for their respective slits toacquire a desired position, with the dimension of the workpieces in thedirection of their progress being the same prior to the orientationoperation and after it, whereby a single trough 6 can be used forsupplying and delivering the workpieces.

When the dimension of the bodies being oriented in the direction oftheir progress varies after the orientation operation, it becomesnecessary for the apparatus to incorporate either a single troughfeaturing different advancing speeds at the entrance area of theorientation zone and at the exit thereof, or two separate troughs in theform of conveyors: one for supplying the bodies toward the orientationzone at one speed and the other one for delivering the bodies therefromat another speed, as is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Let us consider, for example, the operation of orientation a workpiecein the form of an asymmetrical yoke 7 which has its smaller dimension inthe direction of its progress prior to the orientation operation, and,as a result of the orientation operation, turns so that its greaterdimension extends along the direction of the travel. The conveyor 8brings in the yokes 7 at a speed V,", whereas the conveyor 9 removesthem at a speed V,", where V," V The difference between the V,"and V isselected for the yokes 7 to be, firstly, positionable on the conveyor 9in their new oriented arrangement as a result of the orientationoperation, and, secondly, for the yokes 7 to be uniformly spaced on theconveyor 9, with a desired spacing therebetweenv If the bodies to beoriented have their greater dimension in the direction of their progressat the entrance of the orientation zone, and have a smaller dimensionthereof in the direction of their travel, as a result of the orientationoperation, the respective speeds of the two conveyors should be eitherV,' V, or else V, V When V, equals VJ the bodies will be spaced on thedelivery conveyor after the orientation operation; whereas. should it bedesirable for the bodies to be carried away in a continuous stream, thespeed V, should be made correspondingly greater than the speed V Bodiesto be oriented can be supplied toward the orientation zone and deliveredtherefrom at the respective speeds, answering the above conditions, bymeans of an apparatus, embodying the present invention, of which theexemplary schematic structure is illustrated in FIGS 7 and 8. Thisapparatus comprises an electromagnet, similar to that shown in FlG.l,and two vibratory troughs l and Il (FIGS. 7 and 8) actuated by electricdrive means [2 and 13, respectively, each of said drive means comprisinga reciprocable armature I4 and a solenoid connected to analternating-current power supply. The solenoids 15 are mounted on a base16, while the arma tures 14 have the two vibratory troughs l0 and IIrigidly supported thereby. The troughs are also operatively connectedwith the base [6 by means of resilient rods 17. The respective electricdrive means can be adjusted to control the oscillating frequency of thetroughs l0 and ll, whereby the speed at which the bodies 18 are advancedby each one of the troughs can be adjusted independently of each other.

The hereintofore described embodiments of apparatus constructed on theprinciples ofthe present invention are capable of orientation a widerange of bodies, articles and workpieces, which are fed to theorientation zone in a continuous stream, which makes such apparatusparticularly suitable for the aim of introducing automation into diverseoperations connected with feeding successive objects to all kinds ofprocessing equipment.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for the simultaneous contactless separation ofindividual non-magnetic electrically conductive bodies from a continuousflow and orientation thereof, comprising an electromagnet supplied withalternating current, pole pieces of said electromagnet defining anorientation zone widening in the direction of movement of the bodiesbeing oriented, and means for feeding said bodies into said orientationzone and delivering said bodies therefrom in such a manner that saidbodies are grouped or spaced after having passed said orientation zone,whereby separation of said bodies from said flow is achieved as a resultinteraction of currents induced in two adjacent bodies with an externalfield and also under the effect of a non-uniform magnetic field having agradient directed toward said flow of bodies,

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said pole pieces of theelectromagnet are turned in the direction in which said bodies are fedat an acute angle relative to a line connecting their pointed ends, saidelectromagnet effecting electrodynamic braking of the flow of bodiesbeing fed through said zone, and separating individual bodies near thepointed ends of saidpole pieces in response to a non-uniform fieldhaving an opposite gradient on the side of the flow of bodies and on theside ofthe orientation zone. I g

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the surfaces of said polepieces ofthe electromagnet are flat, and the line in which their planesintersect extends vertically on the side from which said bodies aresupplied.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for feedingsaid bodies into said orientation zone and delivering said bodiestherefrom comprises at least one vibratory trough, drive means for saidtrough located on one side ofthe electromagnet, said drive meansincluding a body conveyor having a position and rigidity of suspensionfor said bodies selected so as to ensure a definite advancing speed V,at the inlet end of said orientation zone and V at the exit end of saidorientation zone, said speeds being selected on the condition that V, isgreater than V when said bodies are to be grouped after having passedsaid orientation zone, and V is greater than V, when said bodies are tobe spaced.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, comprising the vibratory troughs,one on each side of said electromagnet, drive means for each of saidtroughs, said troughs being in proximity with each other at the pointwhere the advancing speed of said bodies is to be changed, a smoothtransfer of said bodies from one trough to the other being achieved byadapting a projection of one trough to enter a slot of the other troughhaving a predetermined spacing the size of which is selected to beslightly greater than the horizontal component of the amplitude oftrough vibrations.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for feedingsaid bodies into said orientation zone and delivering said bodiestherefrom comprises two conveyors, one said conveyor advancing saidbodies into said orientation zone at a speed V, and the other saidconveyor delivering said bodies from said orientation zone at a speed Vthe conveyor speeds being selected so that V, is greater than V whensaid bodies are to be grouped after having passed the orientation zoneand V is greater than V, when said bodies are to be spaced, saidconveyors being proximate at the points where the advancing speed is tobe changed, said conveyors being rotatable rolls, one of the rolls ofone said conveyor being smaller than the other in the zone where theconveyors are in proximity to each other and being positioned so thatthe upper surfaces of the conveyors be approximately on the same level,the conveyor components located in the inter-pole space being made of anon-magnetic material.

1. An apparatus for the simultaneous contactless separation ofindividual non-magnetic electrically conductive bodies from a continuousflow and orientation thereof, comprising an electromagnet supplied withalternating current, pole pieces of said electromagnet defining anorientation zone widening in the direction of movement of the bodiesbeing oriented, and means for feeding said bodies into said orientationzone and delivering said bodies therefrom in such a manner that saidbodies are grouped or spaced after having passed said orientation zone,whereby separation of said bodies from said flow is achieved as a resultinteraction of currents induced in two adjacent bodies with an externalfield and also under the effect of a non-uniform magnetic field having agradient directed toward said flow of bodies.
 2. An apparatus as claimedin claim 1 wherein said pole pieces of the electromagnet are turned inthe direction in which said bodies are fed at an acute angle relative toa line connecting their pointed ends, said electromagnet effectingelectrodynamic braking of the flow of bodies being fed through saidzone, and separating individual bodies near the pointed ends of saidpole pieces in response to a non-uniform field having an oppositegradient on the side of the flow of bodies and on the side of theorientation zone.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein thesurfaces of said pole pieces of the electromagnet are flat, and the linein which their planes intersect extends vertically on the side fromwhich said bodies are supplied.
 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said means for feeding said bodies into said orientation zoneand delivering said bodies therefrom comprises at least one vibratorytrough, drive means for said trough located on one side of theelectromagnet, said drive means including a body conveyor having aposition and rigidity of suspension for said bodies selected so as toensure a definite advancing speed V1 at the inlet end of saidorientation zone and V2 at the exit end of said orientation zone, saidspeeds being selected on the condition that V1 is greater than V2 whensaid bodies are to be grouped after having passed said orientation zone,and V2 is greater than V1 when said bodies are to be spaced.
 5. Anapparatus as claimed in claim 4, comprising the vibratory troughs, oneon each side of said electromagnet, drive means for each of saidtroughs, said troughs being in proximity with each other at the pointwhere the advancing speed of said bodies is to be changed, a smoothtransfer of said bodies from one trough to the other being achieved byadapting a projection of one trough to enter a slot of the other troughhaving a predetermined spacing the size of which is selected to beslightly greater than the horizontal component of the amPlitude oftrough vibrations.
 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidmeans for feeding said bodies into said orientation zone and deliveringsaid bodies therefrom comprises two conveyors, one said conveyoradvancing said bodies into said orientation zone at a speed V1 and theother said conveyor delivering said bodies from said orientation zone ata speed V2, the conveyor speeds being selected so that V1 is greaterthan V2 when said bodies are to be grouped after having passed theorientation zone and V2 is greater than V1 when said bodies are to bespaced, said conveyors being proximate at the points where the advancingspeed is to be changed, said conveyors being rotatable rolls, one of therolls of one said conveyor being smaller than the other in the zonewhere the conveyors are in proximity to each other and being positionedso that the upper surfaces of the conveyors be approximately on the samelevel, the conveyor components located in the inter-pole space beingmade of a non-magnetic material.